Traction device for vehicle wheels



Spt. 7 1926. 1,599,001

A E. ANDERSON n AL Tuono DEVICE'FOR vaincu-1 WHEELS Filed June 24, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 1 ndzvdersogg a" 2?/ l J Anderson n an, aww@ Sept 7 1926,.

ANDERSON E'r AL TRAcTIoN Divrcs FOR VEHICLE WHEELS Filed June 1925 2 Sheeis-Shoet 2 gwvmkou J Anderson Patented Sept. 7, 1926.Y

EDWARD kANDERSON AND JOHN ANDERSON, F FLORENCE, WISCONSIN.

TRACTION DEVICE 'FOR VEHICLE VV'HEELS.

Application filed June 24,` `1925. Serial No. 39,311.

This invention relates to an improved traction device for motor vehicles and seeks, among other objects, to` provide a device i which will enable Van automobile to travel insnow.V n

`The invention seeks, as. aufurther object,`

-to provide a pair ofau'xilia'ry traction rims which may be applied to each rear" wheel of the vehicle` and wherein the rims will be lfconnected'by cross chains extending across thefvehicle tires for supporting the traction rims upon vthe wheels Vas well as providing additional traction forthe wheels.

The invention'seelrs', as astillfurther object, to provide a device wherein any loose; ness or Wear in the cross chains will be automatically'takeniup so thattheV cross chains will, at all times, beheld'taut across Vthe wheel tires. VAnd. the'invention seeks, as` a still further object, to provide a device which may be readily applied and as easily removed.

vOther and incidental objects will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings: y Figurev 1`is affragmentary perspective view showing our improved traction device appliedV to one rear wheel of a conventional motor vehicle.

Figure 2 is aV `side'elevation looking at the inner traction rim(y I Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view particularly showing the tensioning means for the traction chains.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view show,- ing the connection between the sectionsA of the traction rims. Y

Figure 5 is a sectional' -kvievv` on the line 5-5 of Figure 4. i i Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showinga slightly modified form of traction cleat. y v

For convenience we have, inthe drawings, shown our improved traction device in con- '15 nection with one rear wheel of a conventional motorfvehicle. The. wheel vfelly is indicated at 10, the rim at 11, and the tire at 12'. In accordance with the present invention, we employ inner and outer auxiliary traction rims 13 and 14 respectively.

These rims are preferably formed of sheet metal and, as shown in Figure 3, are'substantially Channelshaped in cross section, being provided with annular side flanges 155. inner rim 13 is disposed at the inner ci the wheei next te vehicle Aflanges 15 of the rims.

while the outer rim 14 is disposed Vat the outer side of the wheelv and, as will be' observed, the outer rim is preferably somewhat- "wider than the inner rim. Connectingthe rimswith each other is a series of traction chains 16 which extend across the wheel tire 12 and are provided at their ends with hooks 17 engaged through suitable openings in those of the flanges 15 of the rims which lie next to the wheel. Any suitable number of crossxchains may be employed and, as will be perceived, these chains will `support the rims 13 and 1.4 in centered relationY with respect to the wheel. Fixed to the rims at suitably spaced points are transversely disposed cleats 18` extending between the y These cleats are preferably formed of sheet metal plates bent up mediallyto provide ribs which lieflush lwith* theedges ofthe flanges lwhile the ends of said plates are lriveted or otherwise secured to the rims. i

f In order that the device may be readily ap.-Y

plied, the inner rim 13 is, as shown in Figure 2, preferably formed of three companion sections, and iixedto corresponding ends of said sections at the inner sides thereof are end plates 19, one of which is shown in de I tail in Figure 4. Extending through opposite corresponding ends of the sections and through the free ends of the plates, as shown in Figure 5` are bolts 20. and these bolts are preferably equipped with wing nuts 21. Thus, the sections Yof the rim are rigidly connected with each other and, preferably, the Y plates 19 are provided with spaced pairs of openings 22 to selectively accommodate the bolts 20 so that the circumference of the rim may be varied to suit different wheels. The outer rim is, as shown in Figure 1, split at a single point only and fixed to one end of the rim at its inner side is a plate 23 provided with spaced openings 24 to rethe full Vwidth thereof for bracing and rein-.

forcing said rims. TheA oppsite correspondarins of the bracl project radially 'nach with .r1

rims, and extending freely through said arms at the inner circumference ot the telly l0 ot the Wheel are cross rods 27 secured against endivise displacement by cotter keys 2S. Surrounding said rods to coact between the brackets 26 are springs 29 tending to press the rims 13 and lil@ apart. Thus, these springs ivill, as ivill be perceived, serve to tension the traction chains 16 and automatin cally take up any looseness or Wear occurring in said chains. Furthermore, as will be observed, the rods Q7 lie close to the inner circumference of the Wheel telly 10 and Will thus coact with: the telly for limiting the rims 13' and la against eccentric movement with respect to the Wheel.

In F i gure G ot the drawings, we have illustrated a slight modiiieation ot the invention wherein the traction rims, as typically illustrated' at 30, are providedwith angle cleats in-lieu of the cleats 18. In some instances, the cleats 3l may be found more efficient.

Haring thus described the invention, what ive claim is:

l. A traction device for vehicle wheels including` inner and outer traction rims to lie at opposite sides ot the Wheel, means flexibly connecting said rims, and yieldable means tending to press the rims apart and maintain said first mentioned means under tension.

Q. A traction device for vehicle Wheels includ-ing inner` and outer traction rims to he at opposite sides ot the Wheel, traction chains flexibly connecting the rims and dis- I posed to extend across. the outer circumference ot the Wheel, and springs tending to press the rims apart and "n'raintain said chains unoer tension.

3. A traction device tor vehicle Wheels including;` inner and outer traction rims to lic at opposite sides et the wheel, means tlexibly connecting said rims, brackets carried by the rims, cross rods extending betvveen saidk brackets and freely engaged therewith7 and springs carried by said rods toV coact with the brackets tor pressing` the rims apart and maintaining said means under tension.

A tractionA device for vehicle Wheels including` inner and outer traction rims to lie at opposite sides of the Wheel, traction chains iexibly connecting the rims and disposed to extend across the outer circumference ol the `wheel, brackets carried by the rims, cross reds slidably received through said brackets, and springs surrounding the rods to coact between the brackets ior pressing` the rims aiziart and maintaining said chains under tension. In testimony ivhereot ive affix our signatures.

EDWARD ANDERSON. his] JOHN ANDERSQN. [L s] 

